Reviewed By: Flickman
I went into Sovereign not really knowing what to expect. I skipped the trailer and only read the description, and honestly, neither one gives you a clear idea of what this movie is actually about. Both are a little misleading.
Right away, let me clear something up. There is not really a manhunt, and there is definitely no major standoff with the police chief like the trailer suggests. Yes, Dennis Quaid does show up near the end as the police chief, but he is basically the last one to arrive, and all he really does is start shooting.
At its core, Sovereign is a slow burning drama about an anti government father, Jerry Kane, played by Nick Offerman, who is raising his son Joe, played by Jacob Tremblay, to follow his same extreme beliefs. Jerry makes a living traveling around preaching his conspiracy filled, anti-government ideas to anyone willing to listen and pay. When their home goes into foreclosure, he refuses to pay the bank, even though he has the money, because “he did not receive a notice”. Of course, that decision does not go well, and they end up being evicted.
The story moves at a slow but steady pace, spending most of its time in Jerry’s paranoid delusional world. That might sound dull, but it is actually fascinating to watch how it explores the father and son relationship. It does an excellent job showing how easily children can be influenced by their parents. You can tell that Joe does not truly believe everything his father says, but he still follows along because it is his dad, and he does not know any better.
Nick Offerman gives one of his best dramatic performances here, far different from his usual roles. Jacob Tremblay is also fantastic and holds his own in almost every scene. Their chemistry feels natural and real, which gives the movie its emotional weight. The film is well made, grounded, and hits harder than you might expect, even if the pacing is slow.
There is one courtroom scene that completely made me laugh and was a little far-fetched. It involves the $38,000 Jerry owes the bank. I will not spoil what happens, but it is both ridiculous and entertaining at the same time. You will definitely know the scene when it happens, and you will probably laugh in disbelief at how it plays out. Let’s just say I can’t believe that they were able to just walk right out of the court house.
As for Dennis Quaid, his role is small and not very essential. He appears in only a couple of scenes, and the movie would not really change if he were not in it. His character’s only real purpose connects to his son, a new police officer who ends up getting shot at the end. Now I’m pretty sure it was his first day on the job so that has to be either extremely rare, or just very bad luck. Either way, I wouldn’t say that it was of key importance to the film.
Overall, Sovereign is a solid and emotional film that works best when you think of it as a drama rather than a thriller. If you go in expecting high action or intense standoffs like the trailer and description impose, you will be disappointed. But if you are open to a slower, character focused story about belief, control, and how blind loyalty can destroy a family, you will find plenty to appreciate.
Overall Verdict: It's totally worth a watch but don't expect some big thriller or action shootouts.
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